European Retailers Association Elects new Chairman

GAND, Belgium – The European Two-Wheeler Retailers’ Association (ETRA) has elected Maurice Manders (photo) as its new and 4th President in succession to Nigel Hill.

Maurice Manders, aged 42, is the manager of the Dutch dealer association BOVAG for bicycle and motorcycle businesses. He took up this job in 2004 and was appointed to represent BOVAG in ETRA in 2005. In March 2006, he was elected Treasurer of the European trade association for bicycle, moped and motorcycle retailers.

In the past four years, Maurice Manders has manifested himself in the ETRA Committee as a very active, vocal and constructive manager. In order to make ETRA’s collective voice louder and stronger, he believes it is fundamental to set up coalitions.

Cooperation

Manders says: “In the past couple of years, ETRA has intensively searched after cooperation with all parties in our business. I believe the best way to protect and promote the interest of two-wheel retailers is by working together with all associations involved. Together, we should try to provide specialist dealers in Europe with a good perspective. In times in which the concepts green, health, mobility and sustainability dominate the daily headlines, two-wheelers need to be seen as an important part of the solution. We should fight for that together.”
 
It was under Nigel Hill’s Presidency that ETRA resolutely adopted a policy of cooperation and coalition. The trade- association made approaches to related organisations such as ACEM, FEMA, FIM, COLIBI, COLIPED, ECF and LEVA. Furthermore, the organisation strengthened the ties with the two-wheel industry by creating an associated membership programme.

Today, 15 international companies work together with ETRA for the promotion of two-wheelers at European level. ETRA also goes along with the growing interest of the industry in advocacy by involving them through sponsoring in European projects. Earlier this year a European consortium, including among others ETRA got the go ahead and a € 1.4 million subsidy for Presto, a European project aimed at increasing the modal share of cycling in five European cities. It is the first European project ever to involve bike dealers, whilst ETRA convinced SRAM, Accell Group, Giant and Ultra Motor to sponsor the project.
 
Nigel Hill has been ETRA President for the past six years. He will continue with its work for ETRA as Vice-President. Together with the other VP Grégoire Billette from the French association FNCRM Nigel Hill will assist Maurice Manders, whereas Lothar Könekamp from the German association VSF has been appointed Treasurer.